Rajan Zed criticizes ban on Yoga in Los Angeles’ parks and beaches

MIAMI BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 10: Amy Steiner (C) leads a yoga class while dressed in Lululemon Athletica yoga clothes at the Green Monkey yoga studio on December 10, 2013 in Miami Beach, Florida. Lululemon Athletica, Inc. announced today that it is naming Laurent Potdevin as their new chief executive and said founder Chip Wilson will step down as chairman. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Los Angeles City Council has reportedly decided to ban Yoga, street food, and few other things from public parks and beaches. This decision has been strongly criticized by distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, according to a report published in Punjab News Express.

In a statement in Nevada, Zed has termed the City Council’s action as unnecessary obstruction and burden on Yoga.

Speaking about the importance of Yoga, Zed said that Yoga was a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (Jivatman) united with universal-soul (Parmatman).

He further said that, for Patanjali, who authored the book Yoga-Sutras, “the Yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.”

Zed also highlighted that Yoga was a repository of something basic in human soul and psyche. He said though Yoga has been “introduced and nourished by Hinduism, it was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all.”

He termed the regulation of yoga as religious infringement and urged the City Council to exclude Yoga from its vending ban on parks and beaches.

Rajan Zed is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Interfaith Ambassador of Nevada Clergy Association and Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families.

Pranayamic breathing – an important part of yoga and meditation – has a unique ability to strengthen our focus and a new study by Trinity College Dublin has unlocked its secret. The researchers note that pranayamic breathing affects the levels of a natural chemical in the brain called noradrenaline. The latter is released when we are challenged, curious, focused, or emotionally excited. When present at the right levels, noradrenaline helps the brain grow new connections and helps us concentrate better on important tasks.

The old masters were on the right track

The researchers noted: “Practitioners of yoga have claimed for some 2,500 years, that respiration influences the mind. We looked for a neurophysiological link that could help explain these claims.” The researchers did so by measuring breathing, reaction time, and brain activity in a small area in the brainstem called the locus coeruleus, where noradrenaline is made. Noradrenaline is affected by stress; when we are worried or anxious we produce too much, and cannot concentrate. When we feel lazy, on the other hand, we produce too little and once again, focus is lost. One way to boost levels is through yoga; another method which can complement the latter is the consumption of medical grade focus supplements, which contain compounds such as octopamine (which has a similar effect to noradrenaline).

Conversely, those with lower mindfulness ratings had greater activation of this part of the brain and also felt more pain. Pixabay

Pranayamic breathing aces the right balance

In the above study, researchers noted that brain activity in the part of the brain where noradrenaline is produced raises slightly when we inhale and drops slightly as we exhale. Thus, balance is achieved and we can focus on what we have set out to do. Pranayama not only boosts concentration but also produces “changes in arousal, attention, and emotional control that can be of great benefit to the meditator.”

What is Pranayamic breathing?

Pranayamic breathing involves controlling and extending breath, with a view to manipulating your vital energy, battling stress, and improving your mood. It is often used in meditation and yoga and interestingly, many yoga experts rank pranayama as even more important than asanas (the postures performed in a yoga session). In yogic tradition, breath is said to carry a person’s life force. Interestingly, scientific studies back this assertion to the extent that pranayamic breathing is able to boost brain function and change the actual structure of the brain. In recent studies, pranayamic breathing has been found to lower or stabilize blood pressure, lower stress, and reduce anxiety and depression.

In order to comprehend better the Indian seers constructed the special “BOAT” – named Yoga/Meditation.

Implications of the study for aging

The researchers are excited that their findings could signal a way to prevent brain aging. They stated that if brains typically lose mass as we age, practices such as pranayamic breathing greatly reduce the rate of brain shrinkage, thus potentially helping keep dementia and related diseases at bay. Because keeping noradrenaline levels at an optimal level can help the brain grow new connections, meditation is an ideal activity to pursue.

Pranayamic breathing is just one way to improve brain health. Supplementation, a healthy diet, and daily exercise are key, with recent studies showing that aerobic exercise also increases brain size. To make the most of the effect of breathing on focus, consider joining a yoga class or learning the essence of pranayamic breathing online or through an app like Prana Breath or Universal Breathing.